Pregnancy rhesus disease errors too common

[Northerner]

Some pregnant women are being denied a routine treatment to protect their unborn child, say investigators.

A simple injection can prevent a life-threatening condition known as rhesus disease, which occurs if the mother and her baby have incompatible blood groups.

All pregnant women should be screened and any found to have rhesus-negative blood should be offered the anti-D jab.

A UK-wide audit of NHS hospitals shows this is not happening.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21752761

 

[AlisonM]

I have a young friend with this problem. She had three miscarriages before they realised the problem. Last time, she made it far enough to have the anti-D and all was well. Had she been routinely tested, she might not have had to go through that horror so often.

 

[LeeLee]

I was given it, and had a nasty reaction to it. Never had a second child after all that, but my one daughter is Rh+ so it was a necessary precaution.